Folding knife



Aug' 2, 1955 D. w. CLARK ET AL 2,714,249

FOLDING KNIFE Filed July 15, 1953 H TTOR )VE Y United States Patent O FOLDING KNIFE Dixon W. Clark and Alfred I. Sachse, Coeur DAlene, Idaho, and Hubert N. Steele, Spokane, Wash.

Application July 13, 1953, Serial No. 367,513

2 Claims. (Cl. 30-153) This invention is a folding knife and, more particularly, a knife in which a segmental handle is foldable over the blade to provide a housing and movable into axially offset open position wherein the blade is rigidly supported by the handle.

One object of the invention lies in the provision of a folding knife which has a unique handle and blade uniting means whereby when the blade is open it is rigidly supported by the handle and relative movement therebetween is precluded.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a folding knife having means for rigidly uniting the opened handle and blade and releasably locking the handle in either the open or folded positions.

Another object of the invention is to generally improve folding knives and to provide a knife of the folding type from a minimum number of parts and at low cost.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts;

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a folding knife in the open position and, indicated by dotted lines, in the folded position, wherein the handle forms a housing or sheath for the blade;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the knife;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse cross section as at line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical cross section showing the adjoining portions of the blade and handle.

The invention disclosed comprises a blade which has the usual cutting edge 11 and a dull back edge 12 which converge to form the forward point 13. The blade terminates rearwardly with a butt end portion 14 being provided with transversely spaced arcuate ears 15-15 that are disposed in a plane common to the blade and define a recessed rear edge portion 16. Concentric with the arcuate portion of ears 15 are transverse bores 17 and pins 18 extend through and are journaled in these bores.

Longitudinally disposed, divided segmental handle 19 is provided with pairs of spaced parallel elongated side walls 20 which define pairs of front and rear lips 21 and 22. The front lips 21 have their forward edges arcuate and are disposed in pairs, one on either side of an ear 15. The journal pins 18 have their ends securely supported in the pairs of lips 21. It will thus be understood that the ICC handle segments 23-23 are pivotally united with the vertical blade and tiltable in the plane of the blade.

Each handle segment 23 is provided with a back wall 24 which terminates spaced from the ends of the side walls 20 and are provided with forward end faces 25 which are adapted to bear against the recessed rear edge portion 16 of the butt 14, thus creating a longitudinal pressure on the rear edge 16 and binding the blade for rigid support by the handle.

The recess portion of the rear edge 16 is of a dimension adapting it to receive the transverse thickness of the two back walls when in face-to-face engagement and assists in preventing slipping or relative movement between the blade and the handle segments.

The rear lips 22 of the handle segments 23 are provided for locking the handle in the open and closed position. A T-shaped member 26, having a shank 27 and a cross bar 28, is disposed with its shank extending transversely through the bifurcated ends or pairs of spaced lips 22 and a bore 29 is formed through the lips 22 of one segment 23 and the shank 27 intermediate thereof, and a pivot pin 30 is passed through the bore to pivotally unite the member 26 therewith. The cross bar 28 is removably disposed over the marginal end portions of the lips 22 carried by the opposed handle segment 23 thus securing the segments in parallel relation in the open position as shown in Figure 1 and in the closed position wherein the handles are folded over the blade 10.

A loop 31 is carried by the pin 30 to provide means for securing the knife to a chain if desired.

Having thus described our invention, we claim.

I. A folding knife comprising a blade provided with a butt end portion having a recess intermediate a pair of spaced ears; a longitudinally divided segmental handle having spaced parallel elongated side walls on each segment and united by a back wall along companion edges; said side walls being pivotally united with said blade at said ears with the back walls of the segments disposed in face to face engagement when in the open position; said back walls having front edges disposed by reason of their pivotal connections to thrust into and rmly seat in said recess and rigidly bind said blade when said handle is y moved to the open position; and means for securing the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 229,706 Jansen July 6, 1880 365,086 Miller June 21, 1887 881,294 Bellings Mar. 10, 1908 1,665,955 Gatewood Apr. 10, 1928 

